Method of operating an energy center

ABSTRACT

Methods are provided for creating and operating data centers. A data center may include an information technology (IT) load and a fuel cell generator configured to provide power to the IT load.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/501,607 entitled “Energy Center” andfiled Jun. 27, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Electrical power systems can be used to provide electrical power to onemore loads such as buildings, appliances, lights, tools, airconditioners, heating units, factory equipment and machinery, powerstorage units, computers, security systems, etc. The electricity used topower loads is often received from an electrical grid. However, theelectricity for loads may also be provided through alternative powersources such as fuel cells, solar arrays, wind turbines, thermo-electricdevices, batteries, other native DC generating sources, etc. Thealternative power sources can be used in conjunction with the electricalgrid, and a plurality of alternative power sources may be combined in asingle electrical power system. Alternative power sources are generallycombined after conversion of their direct current (DC) output into analternating current (AC). As a result, synchronization of alternativepower sources is required.

In addition, many alternative power sources use machines such as pumpsand blowers which run off auxiliary power. Motors for these pumps andblowers are typically 3-phase AC motors which may require speed control.If the alternative power source generates a DC, the DC undergoes severalstates of power conversion prior to delivery to the motor(s).Alternatively, the power to the motors for pumps, blowers, etc. may beprovided using the electrical grid, an inverter, and a variablefrequency drive. In such a configuration, two stages of power conversionof the inverter are incurred along with two additional stages of powerconversion for driving components of the AC driven variable frequencydrive. In general, each power conversion stage that is performed addscost to the system, adds complexity to the system, and lowers theefficiency of the system.

Operating individual distributed generators, such as fuel cellgenerators, both with and without a grid reference and in parallel witheach other without a grid reference is problematic in that switch-overfrom current source to voltage source must be accommodated.Additionally, parallel control of many grid independent generators,utility anomalies, and/or non-critical load reflections can beproblematic.

To address the mode-switch-over issue, a double-inverter arrangement maybe utilized. This allows one inverter to be used in grid tie and asecond inverter to be used with the stand-alone load. An exemplarydouble-inverter arrangement with a load dedicated inverter that islocated internally in an input/output module of a solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC) system is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/148,488, filed May 2, 2008 and entitled “Uninterruptible Fuel CellSystem”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, nowpublished as U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2008/0304067.

Another approach is to drop power for 5-10 cycles to switch modes. If asingle inverter is used, a time of 5-10 cycles would be required to dropgrid tie and establish voltage mode control.

Yet another approach is to use frequency droop to control the amount ofpower sharing in grid tied export or in load stand alone output control.

SUMMARY

The various embodiments provide methods for operating a data center,comprising an information technology (IT) load, a fuel cell generatorelectrically coupled to the IT load, a building structure housing thefuel cell generator and the IT load, and a cooling device.

In an embodiment, the method may comprise operating the fuel cellgenerator to provide power to the IT load, providing a process exhauststream from at least one of the fuel cell generator and the IT load, andusing the process exhaust stream to cool at least one of the fuel cellgenerator and the IT load.

In another embodiment, the method may comprise operating the fuel cellgenerator to provide power to the IT load, and operating the coolingdevice to cool at least one of the fuel cell generator and the IT load.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A-1C are block diagrams illustrating a system according toembodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 2A-2C are isometric views of a modular fuel cell system enclosuresthat may be used with the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment building structure.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment building structure.

FIG. 5A is a cut-away perspective view of an embodiment data center.

FIG. 5B is a cut-away side view of the embodiment data centerillustrated in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C is a cut-away side view of another embodiment data center.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate top views of various staggered IT load and fuelcell generator arrangements suitable for use in the various embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate top views of various back to back IT load andfuel cell generator arrangements suitable for use in the variousembodiments.

FIG. 8A is a cut-away perspective view of another embodiment datacenter.

FIG. 8B is a cut-away side view of the embodiment data centerillustrated in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an IT load floor according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is cut-away view of an embodiment building structure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a portion of an embodiment building structure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a floor of a data center according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13-16 are perspective views of data centers according to thevarious embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of another data center according to anotherembodiment.

FIGS. 18A-18C illustrate IT load and fuel cell generator connectionsaccording to the various embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of another data center according to anotherembodiment.

FIGS. 20-22 are perspective views of data centers according to thevarious embodiments.

FIGS. 23A-23B illustrate top views of various fuel cell generator andauxiliary device arrangements suitable for use in the variousembodiments.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of IT load, fuel cell generator, andauxiliary device arrangements suitable for use in the variousembodiments.

FIGS. 25A-25C illustrate top view of various fuel cell generator,auxiliary device, and IT load arrangements suitable for use in thevarious embodiments.

FIG. 26 illustrates a top view of a fuel cell generator, auxiliarydevice, IT load, and cooling device arrangement suitable for use in thevarious embodiments.

FIGS. 27 and 28 are isometric views of modular fuel cell systemenclosures that may be used with the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 29 is a schematic of an exemplary system of FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 is a cut-away side view of another embodiment data center.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of another data center according to anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1A, a fuel cell system according to an embodimentincludes a DC load 102, such as an information technology (IT) load(i.e., devices operating in an IT system which may include one or moreof computer(s), server(s), router(s), rack(s), power supply connections,and other components found in a data center environment.

As described herein, an IT load (i.e., devices operating in an IT systemwhich may include one or more of computer(s), server(s), router(s),rack(s), power supply connections, and other components found in a datacenter environment) and IT system are distinguished from devices, suchas computers, servers, routers, racks, controllers, power supplyconnections, and other components used to monitor, manage, and/orcontrol the operation of DC power generators and DC power generationsystems in that IT loads do not monitor, manage, and/or control theoperation of any DC power generators or DC power generation systems thatprovide power to the IT loads themselves.

The optional input/output module (TOM) 104 may comprise one or morepower conditioning components. The power conditioning components mayinclude components for converting DC power to AC power, such as a DC/ACinverter 104A (e.g., a DC/AC inverter described in U.S. Pat. No.7,705,490, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety)(illustrated in FIG. 1B, electrical connectors for AC power output tothe grid, circuits for managing electrical transients, a systemcontroller (e.g., a computer or dedicated control logic device orcircuit), etc. The power conditioning components may be designed toconvert DC power from the fuel cell modules to different AC voltages andfrequencies. Designs for 208V, 60 Hz; 480V, 60 Hz; 415V, 50 Hz and othercommon voltages and frequencies may be provided.

Each power module (i.e., fuel cell generator) 106 cabinet is configuredto house one or more hot boxes. Each hot box contains one or more stacksor columns of fuel cells 106A (generally referred to as “segments”),such as one or more stacks or columns of solid oxide fuel cells having aceramic oxide electrolyte separated by conductive interconnect plates.Other fuel cell types, such as PEM, molten carbonate, phosphoric acid,etc. may also be used.

Fuel cells are often combined into units called “stacks” in which thefuel cells are electrically connected in series and separated byelectrically conductive interconnects, such as gas separator plateswhich function as interconnects. A fuel cell stack may containconductive end plates on its ends. A generalization of a fuel cell stackis the so-called fuel cell segment or column, which can contain one ormore fuel cell stacks connected in series (e.g., where the end plate ofone stack is connected electrically to an end plate of the next stack).A fuel cell segment or column may contain electrical leads which outputthe direct current from the segment or column to a power conditioningsystem. A fuel cell system can include one or more fuel cell columns,each of which may contain one or more fuel cell stacks, such as solidoxide fuel cell stacks.

The fuel cell stacks may be internally manifolded for fuel andexternally manifolded for air, where only the fuel inlet and exhaustrisers extend through openings in the fuel cell layers and/or in theinterconnect plates between the fuel cells, as described in U.S. Pat.No. 7,713,649, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. The fuel cells may have a cross flow (where air and fuel flowroughly perpendicular to each other on opposite sides of the electrolytein each fuel cell), counter flow parallel (where air and fuel flowroughly parallel to each other but in opposite directions on oppositesides of the electrolyte in each fuel cell) or co-flow parallel (whereair and fuel flow roughly parallel to each other in the same directionon opposite sides of the electrolyte in each fuel cell) configuration.

Power modules may also comprise other generators of direct current, suchas solar cell, wind turbine, geothermal or hydroelectric powergenerators.

The segment(s) 106A of fuel cells may be connected to one or more the DCbuses 112 such as a split DC bus, by one or more DC/DC converters 106Blocated in module 106. The DC/DC converters 106B may be located anywherein the fuel cell system, for example in the IOM 104 instead of the powermodules 106.

The system may also optionally include an energy storage module 108including a storage device, such as a bank of supercapacitors,batteries, flywheel, etc. The storage device may also be connected tothe DC bus 112 using one or more DC/DC converters as shown in FIG. 1A.Alternatively, the storage devices may be located in the power module106 and/or together with the load 102. In an embodiment in which anenergy storage module 108 is not used, the power module controls may belinked to the load 102 such that load 102 power draw may be increasedand/or decreased in concert with increasing/decreasing fuel flow to thepower modules and increasing/decreasing power module output. As anexample, a CPU power usage in the servers comprising an IT load 102 maybe increased and/or decreased in concert with increasing/decreasing fuelflow to the power modules and increasing/decreasing power module output.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the bus 112 may comprise a bipolar DC bus 112A anda unipolar DC bus 112B, such that one or more power modules (i.e., fuelcell generators) 106 (or columns in one module) are connected to bus112A and one or more other power modules (i.e., fuel cell generators)(or other columns in one module) are connected to bus 112B. Bus 112A isconnected to the DC load 102, while bus 112B is connected to an inverter104A in IOM 104. The output from the inverter is provided to the grid114 or to an AC load.

The fuel cell system and the grid 114 may be electrically connected tothe power supply 102A of the load 102. The power supply may include acontrol logic unit controlling an AC/DC converter to convert back uppower from the grid 114 to DC power in case power from modules 106 isnot available or not sufficient. The control logic unit may be acomputer or processor which switches power between the primary powerfrom bus 112A and backup power from grid 114 using a switch or relay.Alternatively, the control logic unit may balance power consumption fromboth the primary power bus 112A (e.g., “A source”) and backup power fromgrid 114 (e.g., “B source”) to provide shared power to the power supply102A of the load 102.

A second switch 116 controls the electrical connection between the IOM104 and the grid 114. Switch 116 may be controlled by the control logicunit or by another system controller.

FIG. 1C illustrates an alternative embodiment, where all power modules106 are connected in parallel to a single unipolar DC bus 112B. Bus 112Bprovides power to the load 102 and to the DC/DC converter 104B of IOM104. A bipolar bus 112C connects converter 104B with inverter 104A inIOM 104. While the various buses 112A, 112B are illustrated as a +/−380volt DC buses in FIGS. 1A-1C, buses 112A and 112B may be any valuevoltage buses, such as +/−120 volt, +/−280 volt, +/−600 volt, or +/−5000volt.

In a further embodiment, an AC/DC converter 118 may be coupled betweenthe grid 114 and the power supply 102A of the load 102. In this manner,AC and/or DC power may be input to the load 102 from the grid 114.

Referring to FIGS. 2 a to 2 c, a modular fuel cell system enclosure(i.e., fuel cell generator) 10 is shown according to an exemplaryembodiment. The modular system may contain modules and componentsdescribed above as well as in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/656,006, filed on Jan. 22, 2007, entitled “Modular Fuel Cell System”and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, now published asU.S. Patent Application Publication US 2011/0281185. The modular designof the fuel cell system enclosure 10 provides flexible systeminstallation and operation. Modules allow scaling of installedgenerating capacity, reliable generation of power, flexibility of fuelprocessing, and flexibility of power output voltages and frequencieswith a single design set. The modular design results in an “always on”unit with very high availability and reliability. This design alsoprovides an easy means of scale up and meets specific requirements ofcustomer's installations. The modular design also allows the use ofavailable fuels and required voltages and frequencies which may vary bycustomer and/or by geographic region. FIGS. 2 a to 2 c illustrates apreferred embodiment of a modular fuel cell system enclosure (i.e., fuelcell generator), however, other embodiment fuel cell generators may beused. Fuel cell generators comprising fuel cells, fuel inputs, andelectrical outputs may have various physical configurations andorientations other than the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2a to 2 c. As an example, a fuel cell generator may be located on amezzanine outside a building, and/or may span three vertical levels of abuilding to accommodate space constrained installations.

The modular fuel cell system enclosure (i.e., fuel cell power generator)10 includes a plurality of power modules 12 (which are labeled 106 inFIGS. 1A-1C), one or more fuel input (i.e., fuel processing) modules 16,and one or more power conditioning (i.e., electrical output) modules 18(which are labeled 104 and referred to as “IOM” in FIGS. 1A-1C). Forexample, the system enclosure may include any desired number of modules,such as 2-30 power modules, for example 6-12 power modules. FIG. 2 a to2 c illustrates a system enclosure 10 containing six power modules 12(one row of six modules stacked side to side), one fuel processingmodule 16, and one power conditioning module 18 on a common base 20.Each module 12, 16, 18 may comprise its own cabinet. Alternatively, aswill be described in more detail below, modules 16 and 18 may becombined into a single input/output module 14 located in one cabinet.While one row of power modules 12 is shown, the system may comprise morethan one row of modules 12. For example, the system may comprise tworows of power modules stacked back to back.

Each power module 12 is configured to house one or more hot boxes 13.Each hot box contains one or more stacks or columns of fuel cells (notshown for clarity), such as one or more stacks or columns of solid oxidefuel cells having a ceramic oxide electrolyte separated by conductiveinterconnect plates. Other fuel cell types, such as PEM, moltencarbonate, phosphoric acid, etc. may also be used. In an embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2B, the internals of power module 12 may be providedwithout an external enclosure 10 or power conditioning module 18. Theun-enclosed power module 12 may include the fuel cell hot box 13,auxiliary devices (e.g., blowers) 202 to provide reactant gases to thefuel cell hot box 13, and power electronics 204 to achieve the desiredoutput voltage and waveform (such as DC/DC converters and/or DC/ACinverters). In a further embodiment illustrated in 2C, the powerelectronics 204 may be eliminated, and the un-enclosed power module 12may include a fuel cell hot box 13 and auxiliary devices 202. In such anembodiment, the hot box 13 may be configured such that it is segmentedto generate a voltage (e.g., 12 volts) appropriate for the IT load 102(e.g., an IT power supply) to which it may be connected. In such anembodiment, the auxiliary devices 202 may be configured to use the samevoltage as the IT load 102.

The fuel cell stacks may comprise externally and/or internallymanifolded stacks. For example, the stacks may be internally manifoldedfor fuel and air with fuel and air risers extending through openings inthe fuel cell layers and/or in the interconnect plates between the fuelcells.

Alternatively, the fuel cell stacks may be internally manifolded forfuel and externally manifolded for air, where only the fuel inlet andexhaust risers extend through openings in the fuel cell layers and/or inthe interconnect plates between the fuel cells, as described in U.S.Pat. No. 7,713,649, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. The fuel cells may have a cross flow (where air and fuel flowroughly perpendicular to each other on opposite sides of the electrolytein each fuel cell), counter flow parallel (where air and fuel flowroughly parallel to each other but in opposite directions on oppositesides of the electrolyte in each fuel cell) or co-flow parallel (whereair and fuel flow roughly parallel to each other in the same directionon opposite sides of the electrolyte in each fuel cell) configuration.

The modular fuel cell system enclosure 10 also contains one or moreinput or fuel processing modules 16. This module 16 includes a cabinetwhich contains the components used for pre-processing of fuel, such asdesulfurizer beds. The fuel processing modules 16 may be designed toprocess different types of fuel. For example, a diesel fuel processingmodule, a natural gas fuel processing module, and an ethanol fuelprocessing module may be provided in the same or in separate cabinets. Adifferent bed composition tailored for a particular fuel may be providedin each module. The processing module(s) 16 may processes at least oneof the following fuels selected from natural gas provided from apipeline, compressed natural gas, methane, propane, liquid petroleumgas, gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, kerosene, JP-5, JP-8, aviationfuel, hydrogen, ammonia, ethanol, methanol, syn-gas, bio-gas, bio-dieseland other suitable hydrocarbon or hydrogen containing fuels. If desired,a reformer 17 may be located in the fuel processing module 16.Alternatively, if it is desirable to thermally integrate the reformer 17with the fuel cell stack(s), then a separate reformer 17 may be locatedin each hot box 13 in a respective power module 12. Furthermore, ifinternally reforming fuel cells are used, then an external reformer 17may be omitted entirely.

The modular fuel cell system enclosure 10 also contains one or morepower conditioning modules 18. The power conditioning module 18 includesa cabinet which contains the components for converting the fuel cellstack generated DC power to AC power (e.g., DC/DC and DC/AC convertersdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,705,490, incorporated herein by referencein its entirety), electrical connectors for AC power output to the grid,circuits for managing electrical transients, a system controller (e.g.,a computer or dedicated control logic device or circuit). The powerconditioning module 18 may be designed to convert DC power from the fuelcell modules to different AC voltages and frequencies. Designs for 208V,60 Hz; 480V, 60 Hz; 415V, 50 Hz and other common voltages andfrequencies may be provided.

The fuel processing module 16 and the power conditioning module 18 maybe housed in one input/output cabinet 14. If a single input/outputcabinet 14 is provided, then modules 16 and 18 may be located vertically(e.g., power conditioning module 18 components above the fuel processingmodule 16 desulfurizer canisters/beds) or side by side in the cabinet14. In an alternative embodiment, a single fuel processing module 16 andsingle power conditioning module 18 may be provided for groups of powermodules 12 to include a single fuel processing module 16 and singlepower conditioning module 18 provided for all power modules 12 at anentire site, such as an entire data center or group of data centers.

As shown in one exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 2 a to 2 c, oneinput/output cabinet 14 is provided for one row of six power modules 12,which are arranged linearly side to side on one side of the input/outputmodule 14. The row of modules may be positioned, for example, adjacentto a building for which the system provides power (e.g., with the backsof the cabinets of the modules facing the building wall). While one rowof power modules 12 is shown, the system may comprise more than one rowof modules 12. For example, as noted above, the system may comprise tworows of power modules stacked back to back.

The linear array of power modules 12 is readily scaled. For example,more or fewer power modules 12 may be provided depending on the powerneeds of the building or other facility serviced by the fuel cell system10. The power modules 12 and input/output modules 14 may also beprovided in other ratios. For example, in other exemplary embodiments,more or fewer power modules 12 may be provided adjacent to theinput/output module 14. Further, the support functions could be servedby more than one input/output module 14 (e.g., with a separate fuelprocessing module 16 and power conditioning module 18 cabinets).Additionally, while in the preferred embodiment, the input/output module14 is at the end of the row of power modules 12, it could also belocated in the center of a row power modules 12.

The modular fuel cell system enclosure 10 may be configured in a way toease servicing of the system. All of the routinely or high servicedcomponents (such as the consumable components) may be placed in a singlemodule to reduce amount of time required for the service person. Forexample, the purge gas and desulfurizer material for a natural gasfueled system may be placed in a single module (e.g., a fuel processingmodule 16 or a combined input/output module 14 cabinet). This would bethe only module cabinet accessed during routine maintenance. Thus, eachmodule 12, 14, 16, and 18 may be serviced, repaired or removed from thesystem without opening the other module cabinets and without servicing,repairing or removing the other modules. In an embodiment the modularfuel cell system enclosure 10 may also include internal fuel storage.The internal fuel storage may provide additional run time for thevarious models in event of an external fuel supply interruption and/ormaintenance.

For example, as described above, the enclosure 10 can include multiplepower modules 12. When at least one power module 12 is taken off line(i.e., no power is generated by the stacks in the hot box 13 in the offline module 12), the remaining power modules 12, the fuel processingmodule 16 and the power conditioning module 18 (or the combinedinput/output module 14) are not taken off line. Furthermore, the fuelcell enclosure 10 may contain more than one of each type of module 12,14, 16, or 18. When at least one module of a particular type is takenoff line, the remaining modules of the same type are not taken off line.

Thus, in a system comprising a plurality of modules, each of the modules12, 14, 16, or 18 may be electrically disconnected, removed from thefuel cell enclosure 10 and/or serviced or repaired without stopping anoperation of the other modules in the system, allowing the fuel cellsystem to continue to generate electricity. The entire fuel cell systemdoes not have to be shut down if one stack of fuel cells in one hot box13 malfunctions or is taken off line for servicing. In an embodiment, aservice module may be substituted for any disconnected module 12, 14,16, or 18, to eliminate a loss of electrical generation capacity duringservicing of a disconnected module 12, 14, 16, or 18. As an example, ifa power module 12 is disconnected, a service module that functions as apower module may be connected in place of the disconnected power module12 to keep electrical generation levels at full capacity. In anotherembodiment, temporary DC connections may enable additional temporary DCpower to be supplied to the fuel cell generator from another powersource (e.g., a DC generator, service company owned fuel cell, etc.)when a power module 12 is offline for service.

Each of the power modules 12 and input/output modules 14 include a door30 (e.g., hatch, access panel, etc.) to allow the internal components ofthe module to be accessed (e.g., for maintenance, repair, replacement,etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, the modules 12 and 14 arearranged in a linear array that has doors 30 only on one face of eachcabinet, allowing a continuous row of systems to be installed abuttedagainst each other at the ends. In this way, the size and capacity ofthe fuel cell enclosure 10 can be adjusted with additional modules 12 or14 and bases 20 with minimal rearranging needed for existing modules 12and 14 and bases 20. If desired, the door to module 14 may be on theside rather than on the front of the cabinet.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment building structure 302 for a datacenter 300. In an embodiment, the building structure 302 may house oneor more fuel cell generators coupled to one or more IT loads. The fuelcell generators may be configured to provide power to the one or more ITloads. As used herein a building structure may be a structure closed onall sides, or a building structure may be fully and/or partially open onone or more sides. While illustrated in the various embodiments asgenerally rectangular shaped building structures, any other shape ofbuilding structures may be used in the various embodiments, such aslean-to building structures, circular building structures, multi-facedtrapezoidal building structures, etc. As used herein, housing a device,such as housing one or more fuel cell generators and/or IT loads, meansto cover and/or protect, thus a building structure fully and/orpartially open on one or more sides may house a device, such as one ormore fuel cell generators and/or IT loads.

In an embodiment, electromagnetic pulse protection may be provided tothe building structure 302, for example by an electromagnetic radiationshielding skin 304 forming the outside of the building structure 302.The electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304 may shield componentsinside the building structure 302 from electromagnetic waves. Theelectromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304 may be coupled to its ownindependent ground 306. The ground 306 may be separate from the groundof any fuel cell generators housed within the building structure 302.Additionally, any fuel cell generators, IT loads, power supplies, andassociated electronics may be fully isolated from ground. Theelectromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304 may be comprised of metal,such as iron, and may extend under the building structure 302 to createfull shielding and isolation for the building structure 302. In anembodiment, the electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304 may be aFaraday cage surrounding the building structure 302. Inlets, exhausts,and/or any access ways/openings into the building structure 302 mayinclude attenuating materials on their surfaces to ensure the inlets,exhausts, and/or any access ways/openings do not act as waveguides andelectromagnetic radiation does not propagate within the buildingstructure 302 from the inlets, exhausts, and/or any accessways/openings. In an embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation shieldingskin 304 may include metal mesh covering all openings in theelectromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304. In an embodiment, theelectromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304 may be configured such thatthe sides of the building structure are metal mesh and the bottom of thebuilding is a solid metal surface. In an embodiment, the buildingstructure 302 may be a data center and a data connection to the buildingstructure 302 may be via a fiber optic line. Additionally, the fluidfuel stream (e.g., natural gas and/or liquid diesel) may be provided tothe building structure 302. In such an embodiment, the inputs and/oroutputs (e.g., fuel input, exhaust, data connections, etc.) from thebuilding structure 302 may be made of dielectric materials which may notconduct an electromagnetic pulse into the building structure 302,thereby creating an electromagnetic pulse proof data center island.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment building structure 302 for a datacenter 400. The data center 400 is similar to the data center 300illustrated in FIG. 3 and contains a number of components in common.Those components which are common to both data centers 300 and 400 arenumbered with the same numbers in FIGS. 3 and 4 and will not bedescribed further.

One difference between data center 400 and 300 is that data center 400includes an additional electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 406surrounding the electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304. In anembodiment, the second electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 406 maybe comprised of metal, such as iron. The electromagnetic radiationshielding skin 304 and electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 406 mayform alternating metal layers around the building structure 302. Asdiscussed further below with reference to FIG. 10, in an embodiment,metal mesh may be placed between the electromagnetic radiation shieldingskins 304, 406. In an embodiment, more than two electromagneticradiation shielding skins may surround the building structure 302. In anembodiment the electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 406 may begrounded independently of the electromagnetic radiation shielding skin304. In an embodiment, the ground 410 of the electromagnetic radiationshielding skin 406 may be buried in the earth within its own additionalshielding 412 with its own ground 414. In this manner, an isolatedground vault may be created.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a data center 500 according to an embodiment.FIG. 5A illustrates the data center 500 in a cut-away perspective viewand FIG. 5B illustrates the data center 500 in a cut-away side view. Thedata center 500 may include a building structure 505 housing one or morefuel cell generators 501 and one or more IT loads 503. In an embodiment,the fuel cell generators 501 may any type fuel cell based DC generator,such as the modular fuel cell system 10 described above with referenceto FIG. 2. In an alternative embodiment, the fuel cell generators 501may be merely one or more hot boxes 13 in the power modules 12 describedabove with reference to FIG. 2 without the modules 14 and/or 16. The oneor more fuel cell generators 501 may electrically be coupled to the oneor more IT loads 503, and the one or more fuel cell generators 501 maybe configured to provide power to the one or more IT loads 503, such asvia a bus. In an embodiment, each fuel cell generator 501 may beconfigured to provide power to one IT load 503. In another embodiment,each fuel cell generator 501 may be configured to provide power to oneor more IT loads 503, such as via one or more buses. As describedfurther below, one or more buses may be included in the data center 500,and various embodiments of buses within the data center 500 may used toconnect individual fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503, groups offuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503, and/or all fuel cellgenerators 501 and IT loads 503.

In data center 500, fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 may belocated on the same floors 502, 504, 506, and 508 of the buildingstructure 505. In this manner, fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503may be co-located. In an embodiment, each floor 502, 504, 506, and 508of the building structure 505 may be isolated from other floors (i.e.,the fuel cell generators 501 and the IT loads 503 may not share data,power, fuel, air, and/or process exhaust across floors 502, 504, 506,and 508). In another embodiment, floors 502, 504, 506, and 508 may bepartially or fully interconnected (i.e., connections for fuel cellgenerators 501 and/or IT loads 503, such as power, fuel, air, processexhaust, and/or data connections, etc.) may be made between fuel cellgenerators 501 and/or IT loads 503 located on some or all of floors 502,504, 506, and 508. While illustrated as including four floors, 502, 504,506, and 508, the data center 500 may include less than four floors,such as one, two, or three floors, or may include more than four floors,such as five, ten, or twenty floors, etc.

As used herein, process exhaust may include exhaust from one or both ofan IT load or a fuel cell generator. Process exhaust from a fuel cellgenerator may include hot box exhaust (e.g., Anode Tail Gas Oxidizer(ATO) exhaust), fuel cell generator cabinet ventilation exhaust, or bothhot box exhaust and fuel cell generator cabinet ventilation exhaust.Process exhaust from an IT load may include air heated by IT load duringIT load operation.

In an embodiment, the building structure 505 may be similar to buildingstructure 302 described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, and theskin(s) of the building structure 505 may be similar to the skin(s)discussed above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The data center 500 may include one or more air inlet conduits 510. Inan embodiment, the air inlet conduits 510 may be low pressure airinlets. The air inlet conduits 510 may be configured to draw air intothe data center 500. In an embodiment, the air inlet conduits 510 may belouvered inlets, as described further below with reference to FIG. 10.The louvers may be positioned such that air accelerates as it movesacross the louvers and decelerates after passing the louvers. Theacceleration and deceleration of the air entering the data center 500may cause dirt to drop out of the air entering the data center 500. Thelouvers may also block rain and foreign objects from entering the datacenter 500. In an embodiment, the air inlet conduits 510 may beconfigured to provide air to the one or more fuel cell generators 501and/or the one or more IT loads 503 within the data center 500. In anembodiment, separate air inlet conduits 510 may provide air to differentfloors 502, 504, 506, and 508 of the building structure 505. In anotherembodiment, air inlet conduits 510 may provide air to one or more offloors 502, 504, 506, 508. In a further embodiment, air inlet conduits510 may be configured to provide air to individual fuel cell generators501 and/or IT loads 503. In another embodiment, air inlet conduits 510may be configured to provide air to one or more (e.g., group(s) of six)fuel cell generators 501 and/or IT loads 503.

An air filter 512 may be coupled to the air inlet conduits 510. The airfilter 512 may be configured to filter air entering the buildingstructure 505 and/or air circulated within the building structure 505.Air filter 512 may be a single air filter, such as a fibrous screen, ormay be an air filtration system employing more than one air filterand/or air filtration method, such as fibrous screens, electrostaticfilters, and/or bed filters. In an embodiment, a single air filter 512may filter air for all air inlet conduits. In another embodiment, eachair inlet conduit 510 to the building structure 505 may be coupled toits own air filter 512.

In an embodiment, the building structure 505 may include one or morefans 514. The fans 514 may be configured to draw air into the buildingstructure 505 via the air inlet conduit 510 and/or circulate air withinthe buildings structure 505. Additionally, the fans may force airthrough the building structure 505 to exhaust air from the buildingstructure 505 via one or more air exhaust conduits 516. In anembodiment, the fans 514 may be powered partially, or entirely, byconnections to one or more fuel cell generators 501 housed within thebuilding structure 505. Additionally, the fans 514 may be poweredpartially, or entirely, by connection to other power sources, such as agrid connection. The air exhaust conduits 516 may be configured toexhaust air from the building structure 505. In an embodiment, the airinlet conduits 510 may be louvered which may block rain and foreignobjects from entering the data center 500. In an embodiment, the airexhaust conduits 516 may be configured to exhaust air and/or processexhaust from the one or more fuel cell generators 501 and/or the one ormore IT loads 503 within the data center 500. In an embodiment, separateair exhaust conduits 516 may exhaust air and/or process gas fromdifferent floors 502, 504, 506, and 508 of the building structure 505.In another embodiment, air exhaust conduits 516 may exhaust air and/orprocess gas from one or more of floors 502, 504, 506, 508. In a furtherembodiment, air exhaust conduits 516 may be configured to exhaust airand/or process gas from individual fuel cell generators 501 and/or ITloads 503. In an embodiment, air exhaust conduits 516 may be configuredto exhaust air and/or process gas from one or more fuel cell generators501 and/or IT loads 503.

FIG. 5C illustrates an embodiment data center 500C similar to datacenter 500 described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 500 and 500C are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 500C and 500 is that in datacenter 500C air may be drawn in on a second side of the buildingstructure 505 through additional air inlet conduits 510C and additionalfilters 512C, by additional fans 514C. Rather than exhausted out theside of the building structure, air may be exhausted out the roof of thebuilding structure via air exhaust conduits 516C which may be located onthe roof, such as in the middle of the roof. In an embodiment, air mayflow between each floor 502, 504, 506, and 508 to exit the buildingstructure 505 via exhaust conduits 516C. In another embodiment, one ormore conduits (e.g., ducting) may provide the air exhaust from eachfloor 502, 504, 506, and 508 to the exhaust conduits 516C withoutproviding air from one floor to another floor.

In an optional embodiment, the building structure 505 may includeoptional walls 520, 521 configured such that cooling air flow may not beallowed to bypass the IT loads 503 and/or the fuel cell generators 501and/or flow back from an exhaust side of the IT loads 503 and/or thefuel cell generators 501 to an inlet side of the IT loads 503 and/orfuel cell generators 501. The optional walls 520, 521 may be any typewalls, such as a rigid barriers, flexible blockages, etc. While walls520 and 521 are illustrated as single walls, walls 520 and/or 521 may becomprised of multiple walls. In an embodiment, both walls 520 and 521may be provided. In another embodiment, either walls 520 or walls 521may be provided. By providing the walls 520 and/or 521 a cold aisle atthe inlet of each of the IT loads 503 and/or fuel cell generators 501may be created and a hot aisle at the ventilation discharge side of theIT loads 503 and/or fuel cell generators 501 may be created. In anembodiment in which cooling air passes from IT loads 503 then to fuelcell generators 501, the walls 520 and/or 521 may separate a row of theIT loads 503 from a row of the fuel cell generators 501 such that thewalls 520 and/or 521 may allow the cooling air to pass from the fans514, through the row of IT loads 503 (e.g., through ventilation openingsin the IT load cabinets) to the row of the fuel cell generators 501 andout the roof of the building structure 505, but substantially preventthe air from passing back from the row of fuel cell generators 501 backto the row of IT loads 503. In an embodiment in which cooling air passesfrom fuel cell generators 501 then to IT loads 503, the walls 520 and/or521 may separate a row of the fuel cell generators 501 from a row of theIT loads 503 such that the walls 520 and/or 521 may allow the coolingair to pass from the fans 514C, through the row of fuel cell generators501 to the row of the IT loads 503 and out the roof of the buildingstructure 505, but substantially prevent the air from passing back fromthe row of IT loads 503 back to the row of fuel cell generators 501. Inan embodiment, the positive pressure created by the movement of airthrough the IT loads 503 and/or the fuel cell generators 501, such asthe pressure created by the fans 514, 514C may substantially prevent airfrom flowing back through the IT loads 503 and/or the fuel cellgenerators 501.

When fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 are located on the samefloors 502, 504, 506, and/or 508 of the data center 500, the fuel cellgenerators 501 and IT loads 503 may be arranged in any configuration.FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate various staggered IT load 503 and fuel cellgenerator 501 arrangements suitable for use in the various embodimentsin which fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 are located on thesame floors 502, 504, 506, and/or 508 of the data center 500. FIGS.7A-7E illustrate various back to back IT load 503 and fuel cellgenerator 501 arrangements suitable for use in the various embodimentsin which fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 are located on thesame floors 502, 504, 506, and/or 508 of the data center 500. In FIGS.6A-7E each fuel cell generator 501 may be paired with its own IT load503 for physical placement purposes, however, each fuel cell generator501 and/or IT load 503 may be connected to other fuel cell generators501 and/or IT loads 503. For ease of description, only one floor 502 ofthe data center is illustrated in FIGS. 6A-7E. In an embodiment, fuelcell generators 501 and IT loads 503 on the floors 502, 504, 506, 508 ofthe data center may all be arranged in the same manner. In anotherembodiment, the fuel cell generators 501 and the IT loads 503 on one ormore of floors 502, 504, 506, 508 may be laid out in different mannersfrom each other. In an embodiment, the fuel cell generators 501 and theIT loads 503 housed in the building structure 505 may occupy more than95% of the usable space within the building structure 505. Usable spacemay be floor space on the one or more floors 502, 504, 506, 508 notincluding structural elements of the building structure 505.

FIG. 6A illustrates an embodiment in which the fuel cell generators 501and the IT loads 503 are located in a staggered arrangement on the samefloor 502 of the building structure 505 of data center 500. In FIG. 6Athe IT loads 503 are arranged along the sides of the building structure505 running the length of the floor 502. The fuel cell generators 501are located directly behind the IT loads 503. In this manner, the fuelcell generators 501 may form a row between the rows of IT loads 503. Thefuel cell generators 501 may be offset from each other in a staggeredarrangement.

FIG. 6B illustrates another embodiment in which the fuel cell generators501 and the IT loads 503 are located in a staggered arrangement on thesame floor 502 of the building structure 505 of data center 500. In FIG.6B the IT loads 503 are arranged along the center of the floor 502 in asingle row. The fuel cell generators 501 are located directly behind theIT loads 503 along the sides of the building structure 505 running thelength of the floor 502. Starting from an end of the row of IT loads503, each successive fuel cell generator 501 may be placed on analternate side of the building structure 505. In this manner, the fuelcell generators 501 may form a two staggered rows along each side of thebuilding structure 505 outside the row of IT loads 503.

FIG. 6C illustrates an embodiment in which the fuel cell generators 501and the IT loads 503 are located in a multiple row staggered arrangementon the same floor 502 of the building structure 505 of data center 500.In FIG. 6C, a first row (extending up-down in FIG. 6C) of IT loads 503are arranged along a first side of the building structure 505 runningthe length of the floor 502. The fuel cell generators 501 are locateddirectly behind the IT loads 503 in the first row. Additional fuel cellgenerators 501 are staggered with the fuel cell generators 501 locateddirectly behind the IT loads 503 in the first row in a manner similar tothat described above with reference to FIG. 6A. A second row of IT loads503 is located directly behind the staggered additional fuel cellgenerators 501, and another set of IT loads 503 is located directlybehind the second row of IT loads 503 to create a third row of IT loads503. Another staggered row of fuel cell generators 501 is located behindthe third row of IT loads 503, and a fourth row of IT loads 503 islocated behind the additional staggered row of fuel cell generators 501.In this manner, multiple staggered rows of fuel cell generators 501 andmultiple rows of IT loads may be located on the floor 502. Whilediscussed in terms of two staggered rows of fuel cell generators 501 andfour IT load 503 rows, additional staggered rows of fuel cell generators501 and additional IT load 503 rows may be located on the floor 502 in asimilar manner.

FIG. 6D illustrates another embodiment in which the fuel cell generators501 and the IT loads 503 are located in a multiple row staggeredarrangement on the same floor 502 of the building structure 505 of datacenter 500. In FIG. 6D the IT loads 503 are arranged along the center ofthe floor 502 in two rows. The fuel cell generators 501 are locateddirectly behind the IT loads 503 along the sides IT load 503 rowsrunning the length of the floor 502. Starting from an end of a first rowof IT loads 503, each successive fuel cell generator 501 may be placedon an alternate side of the IT loads 503 in the first IT load 503 row.In this manner, the fuel cell generators 501 may form a two staggeredrows along each side of the first IT load 503 row. The fuel cellgenerators 501 for the second row of IT loads 503 may be placed onalternating sides of the second row of IT loads 503, such that the fuelcells between the two IT load 503 rows are staggered to form a staggeredrow of fuel cell generators 501 in a manner similar to that describedabove with reference to FIG. 6A. While discussed in terms of two IT load503 rows and one row of staggered fuel cell generators 501, additionalstaggered rows of fuel cell generators 501 and additional IT load 503rows may be located on the floor 502 in a similar manner.

FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment in which the fuel cell generators 501and the IT loads 503 are located in a back to back arrangement on thesame floor 502 of the building structure 505 of data center 500. In FIG.7A, the IT loads 503 are arranged along a first side of the buildingstructure 505 running the length of the floor 502. A first set of fuelcell generators 501 are located directly behind the IT loads 503. Asecond set of fuel cell generators 501 is located directly behind thefirst set of fuel cell generators 501. A second row of IT loads 503 islocated directly behind the second set of fuel cell generators 501. Inthis manner, the fuel cell generators 501 and the IT loads 503 may belocated in a back to back arrangement (i.e., forming alternating rows ofIT loads 503 and fuel cell generators 501, and columns having both ITloads 503 and fuel cell generators 501).

FIG. 7B illustrates another embodiment in which the fuel cell generators501 and the IT loads 503 are located in a back to back arrangement onthe same floor 502 of the building structure 505 of data center 500. InFIG. 7B, the fuel cell generators 501 are arranged along a first side ofthe building structure 505 running the length of the floor 502. A firstset of IT loads 503 are located directly behind the fuel cell generators501. A second set of IT loads 503 is located directly behind the firstset of IT loads 503. A second row of fuel cell generators 501 is locateddirectly behind the second set of IT loads 503. In this manner, the fuelcell generators 501 and the IT loads 503 may be located in a back toback arrangement.

FIG. 7C illustrates an embodiment in which the fuel cell generators 501and the IT loads 503 are located in a multiple row back to backarrangement on the same floor 502 of the building structure 505 of datacenter 500. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7C is similar to theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 7A, except additional sets of IT loads503 and fuel cell generators 501 are successively located behind thesecond row of IT loads 503. In this manner, additional rows of IT loads503 and fuel cell generators 501 may be located on floor 502 in amultiple row back to back arrangement. While illustrated in FIG. 7C asfour rows of IT loads 503 and fuel cell generators 501, additional backto back rows of fuel cell generators 501 and additional IT load 503 rowsmay be located on the floor 502 in a similar manner.

FIG. 7D illustrates another embodiment in which the fuel cell generators501 and the IT loads 503 are located in a multiple row back to backarrangement on the same floor 502 of the building structure 505 of datacenter 500. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7D is similar to theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 7B, except additional sets of fuel cellgenerators 501 and IT loads 503 are successively located behind thesecond row of fuel cell generators 501. In this manner, additional rowsof fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 may be located on floor 502in a multiple row back to back arrangement. While illustrated in FIG. 7Das four rows of fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503, additionalback to back rows of IT loads 503 and fuel cell generator 501 rows maybe located on the floor 502 in a similar manner.

FIG. 7E illustrates an embodiment in which back to back rows of fuelcell generators 501 and IT loads 503 may be located in a staggeredarrangement (i.e., in staggered columns). In a manner similar to thatdiscussed above with reference to FIG. 6A, a center staggered row offuel cell generators 501 may have IT loads 503 located directly behindthem creating two rows of IT loads 503 outside the staggered fuel cellgenerators 501. Each of these rows of IT loads 503 may have another setof IT loads 503 located directly behind them and a row of fuel cellgenerators 501 located directly behind the another set of IT loads 503.In this manner, rows of IT loads 503 and fuel cell generators 501 may belocated in both staggered and back to back arrangements on the samefloor 502.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an embodiment data center 800 similar to datacenter 500 described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 500 and 800 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 8A, and 8B and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 800 and 500 is that in datacenter 800 fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 may be located ondifferent floors 802, 804, 806, and 808 of the building structure 505.As an example, fuel cell generators 501 may be located on the firstfloor 808 and the third floor 804, while IT loads 503 may be located onthe second floor 806 and the fourth floor 802. In a preferredembodiment, fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 may be located onadjacent floors. In another embodiment, the fuel cell generators 501 andIT loads 503 may not all be adjacent, such as IT loads 503 on floors 802and 804 and fuel cell generators 501 on floors 806 and 808. Whileillustrated as including four floors, 802, 804, 806, and 808, the datacenter 800 may include less than four floors, such as one, two, or threefloors, or may include more than four floors, such as five, ten, ortwenty floors, etc. While illustrated as including equal numbers of ITload floors 802, 806 and fuel cell generator floors 804, 808, the ratioof IT load floors to fuel cell power generator floors need not be equal.As an example, the building structure may include one floor of fuel cellpower generators and five floors of IT loads. In an embodiment, the fuelcell generators 501 and the IT loads 503 housed in the buildingstructure 505 may occupy more than 95% of the usable space within thebuilding structure 505. Usable space may be floor space on the one ormore floors 802, 804, 806, 808 not including structural elements of thebuilding structure 505.

In an embodiment, each IT load floor 802, 806 may be isolated from eachother (i.e., no data, power, fuel, air, and/or process exhaust shared byIT loads 503 across floors 802 and 806). In an embodiment, each fuelcell generator floor 804, 808 may be isolated from each other (i.e., nodata, power, fuel, air, and/or process exhaust shared by fuel cellgenerators 501 across floors 804 and 808). In an embodiment, IT loadfloors 802 and 806 may be isolated from each other, while fuel cellgenerator floors 804 and 808 may be partially or fully interconnected(i.e., connections for fuel cell generators 501 and/or IT loads 503,such as power, fuel, air, process exhaust, and/or data connections,etc.) with each other and/or the IT load floors 802, 806. In anembodiment, fuel cell generator floors 804 and 808 may be isolated fromeach other, while the IT load floors 802 and 806 may be partially orfully interconnected with each other and/or the fuel cell generatorfloors 804, 808. In an embodiment, all floors 802, 804, 806, and 808 maybe fully or partially interconnected.

In an embodiment, the fuel cell generators 501 may be located on thefuel cell generator floors 804, 808 and the IT loads 503 may be locatedon the IT load floors 802, 806 in any manner, such as arranged in rowsseparated by an aisle. In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the ITloads 503 may be arranged in rows to form aisles 901 a, 901 b, and 903between the rows of the IT loads 503 on an IT load floor 802. Aisles 901a and 901 b may be intake aisles, configured to receive air from an airinlet conduit 510. The ends of the intake aisles 901 a and 901 bopposite the air inlet conduit 510 may include air stops 906 and 908,respectively, ensuring the intake aisles 901 a and 901 b have no outletto the air exhaust conduit 516. Aisle 903 may be an outlet aisle,configured to exhaust air to the air exhaust conduit 516. The end of theoutlet aisle 903 opposite the air exhaust conduit 516 may include an airstop 904 ensuring the outlet aisle 903 does not have an inlet from theair inlet conduit 510. In this manner, consecutive aisles 901 a, 903,and 901 b may be alternately intake and outlet aisles. The buildingstructure 505 may configured such that air passes from the air inletconduit 510, down the intake aisles 901 a, 901 b, across the IT loads503, down the outlet aisle 903, out the air exhaust conduit 516, and outof the building structure 505. In an embodiment, fans 514 may operate tomove air down the intake aisles 901 a, 901 b, across the IT loads 503,down the outlet aisle 903, and out the air exhaust conduit 516.

In an embodiment, access to the IT load floors 802, 806 may becontrolled by a different security protocol than access to the fuel cellgenerator floors 804, 808. As an example, different keys, securitynumbers, badges, doors, etc., may control access to the IT load floors802, 806 and the fuel cell generator floors 804, 808. In this manner,personnel with authorization to access one type of floor may not be ableto access the other type of floor. In a further embodiment, a securityviolation on the fuel cell generator floors 804, 808, and/or the IT loadfloors 802, 806, may results in a pre-programmed response.Pre-programmed response may include, security team paging, data wiping,write-out of master boot sectors, local electromagnetic pulse trigger,server shutdown, or power shutdown.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cut-away view of a portion of an embodimentbuilding structure skins 304, 406, and filter 512 in a data center, suchas data center 500 and/or 800 discussed above. FIG. 10 illustrates thatthe first electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304 may includeopenings 1001 forming the air inlet 510. The openings 1001 may each becovered by at least one metal mesh 1006 placed over the opening. Thesecond electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 406 may include openings1003 forming the air inlet 510 as well. In an embodiment, the offset ofthe openings 1001 in the first electromagnetic radiation shielding skin304 and the openings 1003 in the second electromagnetic radiationshielding skin 406 may create louvers forming the air inlet 510. In anembodiment, the openings 1003 in the second electromagnetic radiationshielding skin 406 may be covered by at least one metal mesh 1002 placedover the opening. In an embodiment, a metal mesh 1004 may be placedbetween the first electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 304 and thesecond electromagnetic radiation shielding skin 406. In an embodiment,the metal mesh 1004 may extend between the first electromagneticradiation shielding skin 304 and the second electromagnetic radiationshielding skin 406 perpendicular to the direction the metal meshes 1004and 1006 extend. Air inlet 510 may be formed in the shape of a louveredconduit from opening 1003, through metal mesh 1004, and to opening 1001.In this manner, air may flow through the metal mesh coverings 1002,1004, and 1006 in the air inlet conduit 510 and from the air inletconduit 510 to the filter 512, but the metal mesh coverings mayattenuate any electromagnetic waves entering the air inlet conduit 510.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment building structure 1100 suitable foruse in the various embodiment data centers. Building structure 1100comprises two separate building portions 1102 and 1104 connectedtogether by a connection structure 1106. In an embodiment, the firstbuilding portion 1102 may house one or more IT loads 503 and the secondbuilding portion 1104 may house one or more fuel cell generators 501configured to provide power to the one or more IT loads 503. In anembodiment, the building structure 1100 may be configured such that airpasses from the first building portion 1102 to the second buildingportion 1104 via the connection structure 1106. In an embodiment, thebuilding structure 1100 may be configured, such as with cooling devices,to maintain the air temperature in the connection structure between 50and 70 degrees Celsius. In this manner, air used to cool the IT loads503 in the first building portion 1102 may be drawn through theconnection structure 1106 and used to cool the fuel cell generators 501in the second building portion 1104, and/or used as an air inlet streamfor the fuel cell generators 501. Thus, the IT loads 503 may act as apre-heater for the air inlet stream of the fuel cell generators 501, andless pre-heating of the air inlet stream for the fuel cell generators501 may be required when compared with using room temperature air in theair inlet stream.

In an optional embodiment, the building structure 1100 may includeoptional walls 1108 and/or 1110 configured such that cooling air flowmay not be allowed to bypass the IT loads 503 and/or the fuel cellgenerators 501 and/or flow back from an exhaust side of the IT loads 503and/or the fuel cell generators 501 to an inlet side of the IT loads 503and/or fuel cell generators 501. The optional walls 1108, 1110 may beany type walls, such as a rigid barriers, flexible blockages, etc. Whilewalls 1108 and 1110 are illustrated as single walls, walls 1108 and/or1110 may be comprised of multiple walls. In an embodiment, both walls1108 and 1110 may be provided. In another embodiment, either walls 1108or walls 1110 may be provided. By providing the walls 1108 and/or 1110 acold aisle at the inlet of each of the IT loads 503 and/or fuel cellgenerators 501 may be created and a hot aisle at the ventilationdischarge side of the IT loads 503 and/or fuel cell generators 501 maybe created. In an embodiment in which cooling air passes from IT loads503 then to fuel cell generators 501, the walls 1108 and/or 1110 mayseparate a row of the IT loads 503 from a row of the fuel cellgenerators 501 such that the walls 1108 and/or 1110 may allow thecooling air to pass through the row of IT loads 503 to the row of thefuel cell generators 501, but substantially prevent the air from passingback from the row of fuel cell generators 501 back to the row of ITloads 503.

FIG. 12 illustrates a floor 1200 of a data center according to anembodiment. The floor 1200 may be similar to floors 502, 504, 506, and508 described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B in that fuel cellgenerators 501 may be located on the same floor 1200 as IT loads 503.

In an embodiment, fans 1204 may be placed along a length of the floor1200, paralleling rows of fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503. Airmay be drawn into the floor 1200 (and optionally the building structureof the data center) via air inlet conduits 1202 on a first side of thefloor 1200 and funneled through the IT loads 503. An IT load exhaustconduit 1206 may couple each IT load 503 to each fuel cell generator501, and air exhausted (i.e., IT load cooling air exhaust) from the ITloads 503 may be provided to each fuel cell generator 501, respectively,via the IT load exhaust conduit 1206. In an embodiment, the airexhausted from the IT loads 503 may be provided to a cathode side of thefuel cell(s) within the fuel cell generators 501. The exhaust outlet ofthe cathode of the fuel cell(s) within the fuel cell generators 501 maybe coupled to a cathode exhaust conduit 1212. The cathode exhaustconduits 1212 may be coupled to an air exhaust conduit 1214. The airexhaust conduit 1214 may exhaust air out a side of the floor 1200 and/orbuilding structure of the data center different from the side of thefloor 1200 and/or building structure from which the air inlet conduits1202 draw air. A pipeline 1208 to a side of the floor 1200 (andoptionally the building structure of the data center) may provide fuelto the fuel cell generators 501 via fuel inlet conduits 1210 coupledbetween each fuel cell generator 501 and the fuel pipeline 1208. Ananode (i.e., fuel) exhaust conduit 1216 may be coupled to an anodeexhaust outlet of the fuel cell(s) within the fuel cell generators 501and coupled to a process exhaust conduit 1218. Anode exhaust from thefuel cell(s) within the fuel cell generators 501 may be exhausted to theprocess exhaust conduit 1218 via the anode exhaust conduit 1216. Theprocess exhaust conduit 1218 may exhaust process exhaust out a side ofthe floor 1200 and/or building structure of the data center differentfrom the side of the floor 1200 and/or building structure from which theair inlet conduits 1202 draw air and different from the side of thefloor 1200 and/or building structure of the data center from which theair exhaust conduit 1214 exhausts air.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment data center 1300 similarto data center 800 described above with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 800 and 1300 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 13 and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 1300 and 800 is that data center1300 may include a cooling tower 1302 configured to convert the enthalpyof the process exhaust to work energy and a power device 1308 to convertthe work energy to power for the IT loads 503. The cooling tower 1302may receive process exhaust (e.g., fuel and/or air exhaust, such as airexhaust passed through an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) where fuelexhaust is oxidized followed by providing the ATO exhaust to the hot boxexhaust conduit (e.g., duct) 1304, or exhaust from air exhaust conduit1214 and/or process exhaust conduit 1218 discussed above) from the fuelcell generators 501 via a hot box exhaust conduit (e.g., duct) 1304configured to receive a process exhaust from the fuel cell generators501. The hot box exhaust conduit (e.g., duct) 1304 may provide theprocess exhaust to the cooling tower 1302. The cooling tower 1302 may beconfigured to convert the enthalpy of the process exhaust to workenergy. For example, the cooling tower 1302 may include a turbine 1306,and the process exhaust may spin the turbine 1306. The work energy fromthe cooling tower 1302 may be converted into power for the IT loads 503by a device 1308, such as a generator. As an example, the generator 1308may be coupled to the turbine 1306 of the cooling tower 1302. As theturbine 1306 is spun by the process exhaust in the cooling tower 1302the turbine 1306 may spin the rotor of the generator 1308 producingelectricity. The electricity produced by the generator 1308 may beprovided to the IT loads 503. In addition to and/or in place of aturbine 1306, other heat recovery power generators may be used, such asa reciprocating heat engine, Stirling engine, thermoelectric devices,pyroelectric devices, etc. In this manner, the capture of energy fromthe process exhaust may increase the efficiency of the overall datacenter 1300 and/or reduce the required power output of the fuel cellgenerators 501.

One advantage to the vertical orientation illustrated in FIG. 13 andFIG. 5C (i.e., with process exhaust exiting the top of the buildingstructure 505), is that a data center may be designed such that naturalconvection may drive the flow through the air inlets 510, 510C andfilters 512, 512C, reducing and/or eliminating the need for fans 514,514C. Fuel cell 501 and/or IT load 503 associated blowers and fans maypush heated process exhaust out of the fuel cells 501 and/or IT loads503, convection may push air out of the building structure 505. In anembodiment, the cooling tower 1302 may act as a chimney allowing for avelocity build over a vertical rise.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment data center 1400 similarto data center 800 described above with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 800 and 1400 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 14 and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 1400 and 800 is that data center1400 may include an absorptive chiller 1402 configured to use theprocess exhaust from the fuel cell generators 501 to cool the IT loads503. The absorptive chiller 1402 may receive process exhaust from thefuel cell generators 501 via a hot box exhaust conduit (e.g., duct) 1403configured to receive a process exhaust from the fuel cell generators501. The hot box exhaust conduit (e.g., duct) 1403 may provide theprocess exhaust through the generator 1412 of the absorptive chiller1402 to heat the absorbed refrigerant and separate the refrigerant fromthe absorber as refrigerant vapors. The refrigerant vapors may pass viathe vapor conduit 1414 to the condenser 1411. Cooling water from a watersupply (e.g., tank, well, municipal water source, etc.) 1410 may beprovided through the condenser 1411 via cool water conduit 1413 tocondense the refrigerant vapors to a liquid. The liquid refrigerant maypass to the evaporator 1409 via a refrigerant conduit 1417. As theliquid refrigerant evaporates it may cool the water in the chill waterloop 1406. Absorber fluid may pass to the evaporator 1409 via anabsorber conduit 1416, and cooling water from a water supply (e.g.,tank, well, municipal water source, etc.) 1408 may be provided throughthe evaporator 1409 via cool water conduit 1418 to condense therefrigerant vapors which are absorbed by the absorber fluid. The mixtureof absorber fluid and refrigerant is drawn from the evaporator 1409 tothe generator 1412 via conduit 1420 by pump 1407, and the process ofseparating refrigerant via heat from the process exhaust continues. Fans1421 may circulate the air for the IT loads 501 across the chill waterloop 1406 to cool the air for the IT loads 503. In this manner processexhaust may be used by the absorptive chiller 1402 to cool the IT loads503.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an embodiment data center 1500 similarto data center 1300 described above with reference to FIG. 13 andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 1300 and 1500 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 13 and 15 and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 1500 and 1300 is that data center1500 may include a compression chiller 1502 instead of, or in additionto, the device 1308 to convert the work energy to power for the IT loads503. The turbine 1306 in the cooling tower 1302 may be configured todrive the compressor 1504 of the compression chiller 1052. Thecompressor 1504 may compress the cooling fluid (e.g., R134) of thecompression chiller 1502, pass the cooling fluid to a condenser 1508 andexpansion valve 1509 via conduit 1507, and then an evaporator 1510 tocool air for the IT loads 503. The cooling fluid may return to thecompressor 1504 to be compressed again via return conduit 1512. A fan1511 may blow air across the evaporator 1510 to be cooled, and an airduct 1506 may circulate the cooled air to the IT loads 503.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an embodiment data center 1600 similarto data center 1500 described above with reference to FIG. 15 andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 1500 and 1600 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 15 and 16 and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 1600 and 1500 is that data center1600 may include an evaporative cooling device 1602 rather than acompression chiller 1502. Additionally, the cooling tower 1302 may notinclude a turbine. In an embodiment, a condenser, such as the coolingtower 1302, may be configured to remove water from the fuel cellgenerator exhaust provided by the fuel cell generator hot box exhaustconduit (e.g., duct) 1304. As an example, steam within the fuel cellgenerator exhaust may condense to water and may be removed from thecooling tower via a drain tube 1604. In an embodiment, the drain tubemay be coupled to the reservoir 1611 of an evaporative cooling device1602, such as a “swamp cooler”. The water from the reservoir 1611 may bedrawn through supply conduit 1610 by pump 1608 and pumped over anevaporative pad 1607. The evaporation of the water in the evaporativepad 1607 may remove heat from the air blown over the evaporative pad1607 by the fan 1511. The cooled air may be circulated to the IT loads503 by air duct 1506. Un-evaporated water may be collected in returnconduit 1609 and returned to the reservoir 1611.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment data center 1700 including fuel cellpower generators 501 and IT loads 503 housed within a buildingstructure. While illustrated as a building structure with fuel cellgenerators 501 and IT loads 503 located on different floors of thebuilding structure, in an alternative embodiment, the fuel cellgenerators 501 and IT loads 503 may be located on the same floor(s).

In an embodiment, the fuel cell generators 501 may be coupled to variousfuel sources via a fuel inlet 1716. In an embodiment, the fuel inlet1716 may be coupled to a fuel source pipeline 1712, such as a publicutility pipeline, and in this manner, the fuel source pipeline 1712 maybe coupled to the fuel cell generators 501 and configured to providefuel to the fuel cell generators 501. In an optional embodiment, thefuel inlet 1716 may also be coupled to a fuel source pipeline 1714,which may be a fuel source pipeline independent of the fuel sourcepipeline 1712. In this manner, the fuel source pipeline 1714 may also becoupled to the fuel cell generators 501 and configured to provide fuelto the fuel cell generators 501. In an embodiment, a valve 1717 maycontrol the flow of fuel from the fuel source pipeline 1714 to the fuelinlet conduit 1716. Valve 1717 may be manually operated, remotelyoperated, and/or controlled by logic, such as a controller. Thepipelines 1712, 1714 may supply the same or different fuels to the fuelcell generators 501. As examples, both pipelines 1712, 1714 may supplynatural gas, pipeline 1712 may supply natural gas and pipeline 1714 maysupply syn-gas, pipeline 1712 may supply bio-fuel and pipeline 1714 maysupply natural gas, pipeline 1712 may supply natural gas and pipeline1714 may supply hydrogen (H₂), or pipeline 1712 may supply oil andpipeline 1714 may supply natural gas.

In operation the fuel cell generators 501 may produce various processexhausts, such as anode and/or cathode exhaust for the fuel cell(s)within the fuel cell generators 501, which may be exhausted to anexhaust conduit 1720. In an embodiment, the exhaust conduit 1720 mayexhaust the process exhaust (e.g., ATO exhaust) out of the data center1700.

In an optional embodiment, the data center 1700 may include an energystorage device 1718 coupled to the IT loads 503 and/or the fuel cellgenerators 501. In an embodiment, the energy storage device 1718 may beany device configured to store electrical energy, such as a battery,supercapacitor, or flywheel. The energy storage device 1718 may beconfigured to provide power to the IT loads 503 and receive power fromthe fuel cell generators 501. In an embodiment, the energy storagedevice 1718 may also provide power to the fuel cell generators 501(e.g., during start up or shutdown of the fuel cell generators 501 topower blowers and/or other devices of plant equipment. In an embodiment,a controller may be coupled to the IT loads 503, fuel cell generators501, and energy storage device 1718 to monitor the power requirements ofthe IT loads 503 and control the operation of the fuel cell generators501 and/or energy storage device 1718 based on the power requirements ofthe IT loads 503. In an alternative embodiment, voltage control (i.e.,voltage set points) may be used to control charging and/or dischargingof the energy storage device 1718.

In an embodiment, the IT loads 503 may be coupled to a data bus 1710which may be configured to share data among the IT loads 503 and outputdata, such as to a network via a network connection to the data bus1710. In an embodiment, the IT loads 503, fuel cell generators 501,and/or energy storage device 1718 may be coupled to a grid connection1704, such as a public utility electrical grid connection. In anembodiment, the IT loads 503, fuel cell generators 501, and/or energystorage device 1718 may be coupled to the grid connection 114 via anAC/DC converter 1706. In a further embodiment, an AC generator 1708 maybe coupled to the IT loads 503, fuel cell generators 501, and/or energystorage device 1718 via the AC/DC converter 1706. In this manner, thedata center 1700 may have varied additional power sources beyond thefuel cell generators 501 which may provide power to the IT loads 503.

In an optional embodiment, a fuel storage tank 1722 may be co-locatedwith the building structure of the data center 1700. The fuel storagetank 1722 may be coupled to the fuel inlet conduit 1716. In this manner,the fuel storage tank 1722 may be coupled to the fuel cell generators501 and configured to provide a stored fuel from the fuel storage tank1722 to the fuel cell generators 501. In an embodiment, a valve 1715 maycontrol the flow of fuel from the fuel storage tank 1722 to the fuelinlet conduit 1716. Valve 1715 may be manually operated, remotelyoperated, and/or controlled by logic, such as a controller. In anembodiment, the stored fuel may be any type fuel suitable for use withfuel cells, such as liquid propane, propane, compressed natural gas,liquid natural gas, hydrogen (liquid or compressed H₂ or H₂ stored insolid media, such as metal hydride or carbon nanotubes), ethanol, etc.In an embodiment, the fuel cell generators 501 may use fuel suppliedfrom the pipeline 1712 in normal operation, but may rely on stored fuelin the fuel storage tank 1722 as a backup fuel source, such as when thenatural gas utility may be out of service. In an embodiment, a coolingdevice may be coupled to the outlet of the fuel storage tank 1722. Thecooling device may be configured to use heat removal by the stored fuelto cool the IT loads 503. As an example, the cooling device may use heatremoval as the stored fuel converts from a liquid fuel to a gaseous fuelto cool the air provided to the IT loads 503. As another example, thecooling device may use heat removal as the stored fuel expands from acompressed state to cool the air provided to the IT loads 503.

FIGS. 18A-18C illustrate IT load 503 and fuel cell generator 501connections suitable for use in the various embodiments. FIG. 18Aillustrates individual bus connections 1802, 1804, 1806, and 1808between each fuel cell generator 501 and each IT load 503. In thismanner, each fuel cell generator 501 and IT load 503 pair may beisolated from other fuel cell generator 501 and IT load 503 pairs. FIG.18B illustrates a shared common bus 1810 between all fuel cellgenerators 501 and all IT loads 503. In this manner, any fuel cellgenerator 501 may provide power to any IT load. FIG. 18C illustrates twoshared buses 1812 and 1814 which may connect a first group of fuel cellgenerators 501 and IT loads 503 together, independent of a second groupof fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503. In this manner, groups offuel cell generators 501 may provide power to groups of IT loads 503,but each grouping may be isolated from other groupings. Whileillustrated as a single buses, buses 1802, 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1812,and/or 1814 may be split buses, such as three conductor buses. In thevarious embodiment, buses 1802, 1804 1806 1808, 1810, 1812, and 1814 maybe used to connect fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 on the samefloor and/or across more than one floor in a data center.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an embodiment data center 1900 similarto data center 1700 described above with reference to FIG. 17 andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 1700 and 1900 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 17 and 19 and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 1900 and 1700 is that data center1900 may include an IT load controller 1904 in communication with the ITloads 503 and a fuel cell generator controller 1902 in communicationwith the fuel cell generators 501. In an embodiment, one or both of theIT load controller 1904 and fuel cell generator controller 1902 may bepowered partially or fully by the fuel cell generators 501. In anembodiment, the IT load controller 1904 and fuel cell generatorcontroller 1902 may be physically the same device (e.g., singlecomputer).

The IT load controller 1904 may be in communication with various ITloads 503 in the data center 1900 for controlling/scheduling theoperation the various devices comprising the IT loads 503. In anembodiment, the IT load controller 1904 may include a connection 1906 toa communication network (e.g., a cellular, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or otherconnection to the Internet) for sending/receiving information withdevices/systems/entities, such as public utilities, fuel dispatchers,data center 1900 operators, various devices comprising the IT loads 503,emergency response personnel, security personnel, etc. In this manner,information may be exchanged between the devices/systems/entities andthe IT load controller 1904. In an embodiment, the various devicescomprising the IT loads 503 may include wired and/or wireless modems andlogic to enable communication between the IT load controller 1904 andvarious IT load 503 devices and various logic and controls (e.g.,switches, transistors, relays, etc.) to enable the IT load 503 devicesto perform operations (such as start-ups, shut downs, data wiping,write-out of master boot sectors, server shutdown, electromagnetic pulsetriggers, disconnects, discharges, etc.) in response to signals receivedfrom the IT load controller 1904. In this manner, IT load controller1904 may control the operations of the various IT load 503 devices viawired or wireless communication. In an optional embodiment, the IT loadcontroller 1904 may be connected to the IT loads 503 by a series ofwires 1924, such as electrical and/or fiber optic transmission lines.

The fuel cell generator controller 1902 may be in communication withvarious fuel cell generators 501 in the data center 1900 forcontrolling/scheduling the operation the various devices comprising thefuel cell generators 501. In an embodiment, the fuel cell generatorcontroller 1902 may include a connection 1908 to a communication network(e.g., a cellular, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or other connection to the Internet)for sending/receiving information with devices/systems/entities, such aspublic utilities, fuel dispatchers, data center 1900 operators, variousdevices comprising the fuel cell generators 501, emergency responsepersonnel, security personnel, etc. In this manner, information may beexchanged between the devices/systems/entities and the fuel cellgenerator controller 1902. In an embodiment, the various devicescomprising the fuel cell generators 501 may include wired and/orwireless modems and logic to enable communication between the fuel cellgenerator controller 1902 and various fuel cell generator 501 devicesand various logic and controls (e.g., switches, transistors, relays,etc.) to enable the fuel cell generator 501 devices to performoperations (such as start-ups, shut downs, disconnects, discharges,etc.) in response to signals received from the fuel cell generatorcontroller 1902. In this manner, fuel cell generator controller 1902 maycontrol the operations of the various fuel cell generator 501 devicesvia wired or wireless communication. In an optional embodiment, the fuelcell generator controller 1902 may be connected to the fuel cellgenerator 501 by a series of wires 1922, such as electrical and/or fiberoptic transmission lines.

In an embodiment, microwave transmission equipment 1910, such as amicrowave transceiver, may be provided in the data center 1900. The ITload controller 1904 and/or the fuel cell generator controller 1902 maybe connected to the microwave transmission equipment, via dataconnections 1918 and 1914, respectively, such as electrical and/or fiberoptic transmission lines. The microwave transmission equipment may serveas a backup to connections 1906 and/or 1908 to communication networks(e.g., a cellular, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or other connection to the Internet)for sending/receiving information with devices/systems/entities.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an embodiment data center 2000 similarto data center 1400 described above with reference to FIG. 14 andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 1400 and 2000 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 14 and 20 and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 2000 and 1400 is that data center2000 may include an absorptive chiller 2002 instead of, or in additionto, absorptive chiller 1402. Absorptive chiller 2002 may be configuredto use the process exhaust from the IT loads 503 to cool the fuel cellgenerators 501. The absorptive chiller 2002 may be similar to absorptivechiller 1402, except that absorptive chiller 2002 may receive processexhaust from the IT loads 503 via an IT load exhaust conduit 2003configured to receive a process exhaust from the IT loads 503, ratherthan process exhaust from the fuel cell generators 501 via a hot boxexhaust conduit (e.g., duct) 1403. The IT load exhaust conduit 2003 mayprovide the process exhaust through the generator 1412 of the absorptivechiller 2002. Absorptive chiller 2002 may operate in a similar manner asabsorptive chiller 1402 described above with reference to FIG. 14 tocool the water in chill water loop 2106. Fans 2021 may circulate the airfor the fuel cell generators 501 across the chill water loop 2106 tocool the air for the fuel cell generators. In this manner processexhaust may be used by the absorptive chiller 2002 to cool the fuel cellgenerators 501.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an embodiment data center 2100 similarto data center 1500 described above with reference to FIG. 15 andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 1500 and 2100 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 15 and 21 and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 2100 and 1500 is that data center2100 may include a compression chiller 2102 instead of, or in additionto, the compression chiller 1502. Compression chiller 2102 may beconfigured to use the process exhaust from the IT loads 503 to cool thefuel cell generators 501. The compression chiller 2102 may be similar tocompression chiller 1502, except that compression chiller 2102 mayreceive process exhaust from the IT loads 503 via an IT load exhaustconduit 2003 configured to receive a process exhaust from the IT loads503, rather than process exhaust from the fuel cell generators 501 via ahot box exhaust conduit (e.g., duct) 1304 configured to receive aprocess exhaust from the fuel cell generators 501. Compression chiller2102 may operate in a similar manner as compression chiller 1502described above with reference to FIG. 15 to cool air for the fuel cellgenerators 501. A fan may blow air across the evaporator 1510 to becooled, and an air duct 2106 may circulate the cooled air to the fuelcell generators 501.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an embodiment data center 2200 similarto data center 1600 described above with reference to FIG. 16 andcontains a number of components in common. Those components which arecommon to both data centers 1600 and 2200 are numbered with the samenumbers in FIGS. 16 and 21 and will not be described further.

One difference between the data center 2200 and 1600 is that data center2200 may include an evaporative cooling device 2202 instead of, or inaddition to, the evaporative cooling device 1602. Evaporative coolingdevice 2202 may be configured to use the water from the process exhaustfrom the IT loads 503 to cool the fuel cell generators 501. Theevaporative cooling device 2202 may be similar to evaporative coolingdevice 1602, except that evaporative cooling device 2202 may receivewater from a condenser, such as cooling tower 1302, configured to removewater from the process exhaust from the IT loads 503 provided to thecondenser via an IT load exhaust conduit 2003 configured to receive aprocess exhaust from the IT loads 503, rather than water removed fromprocess exhaust from the fuel cell generators 501. The evaporativecooling device 2202 may operate in a similar manner as evaporativecooling device 1602 described above with reference to FIG. 16 to coolair for the fuel cell generators 501. The evaporation of the water inthe evaporative pad 1607 may remove heat from the air blown over theevaporative pad 1607 by the fan 2111. The cooled air may be circulatedto the fuel cell generators 501 by air duct 2106.

FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate various fuel cell generator 501 andauxiliary device 2302 arrangements suitable for use in the variousembodiments in which the fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 arelocated on different floors 802, 804, 806, 808 of the data center 800described above with reference to FIG. 8. When fuel cell generators 501and IT loads 503 are located on different floors 802, 804, 806, and/or808 of the data center 800, the fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads503 may be arranged in any configuration. Auxiliary devices 2302 mayinclude blowers, pumps, fans, fuel lines, water lines, air lines,reactors (e.g., catalytic partial oxidation reactors), electronics(e.g., DC/DC converters) valves, and/or other equipment necessary foroperation of the fuel cell generators 501. Each fuel cell generator 501may be paired with its own set of auxiliary devices 2302 to form a fuelcell module 2304. In an embodiment, the fuel cell module 2304 may besimilar to fuel cell power module 12 described above with reference toFIG. 2. For ease of description, only one floor 804 of the data center800 is illustrated in FIGS. 23A and 23B.

FIG. 23A illustrates an embodiment in which the fuel cell generators 501and the auxiliary devices 2302 forming the fuel cell module 2304 arearranged aligned columns and rows in the center of the fuel cellgenerator floor 804. FIG. 23B illustrates another embodiment in whichthe fuel cell modules 2304 are staggered in two interlocking columns toincrease the density of fuel cell modules 2304 on the floor 804.

FIG. 24 illustrates a perspective view of two floors of data center 800,floors 802 and 804. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 24 IT loads503 on floor 802 are located directly over the fuel cell modules 2304 onfloor 804 which are electrically connected to the IT loads 503. In analternative embodiment, fuel cell modules 2304 on floor 802 may bedirectly over IT loads 503 on floor 806 and may be electricallyconnected to the IT loads 503 on floor 806.

FIGS. 25A-25C illustrate various IT load 503 and fuel cell module 2304arrangements suitable for use in the various embodiments in which fuelcell generators 501 and IT loads 503 are located on the same floors 502,504, 506, and/or 508 of the data center 500. For ease of description,only one floor 502 of the data center is illustrated in FIGS. 25A-25C.

FIG. 25A illustrates two adjacent columns, each column containing bothfuel cell modules 2304 and IT loads 503 arranged in the center of thefloor 502 to create two aisles 2503 and 2502. In the two adjacentcolumns fuel cell modules 2304 and IT loads 503 may be arranged in anyorder, and the number of fuel cell modules 2304 may be different fromthe number of IT loads 503 in each column. IT loads 503 in one columnmay be arranged adjacent to IT loads 503 in the other column or adjacentto fuel cell modules 2304, and fuel cell modules 2304 may be arrangedadjacent to fuel cell modules 2304 or IT loads 503 as well. FIG. 25Billustrates two adjacent columns, one of all fuel cell modules 2304 andone of all IT loads 503, arranged in a back to back configuration in thecenter of the floor 502 to create two aisles 2503 and 2502. FIG. 25Cillustrates alternating rows of two columns of IT loads 503 and twocolumns of fuel cell modules 2304 arranged on the floor 502 to createthree aisles 2506, 2507, and 2508. The IT loads 503 may be arranged intwo back to back columns to form one row, and the fuel cell modules 2304may be arranged in two back to back columns to form another row.

FIG. 26 illustrates an IT load 503, fuel cell module 2304, and coolingdevice 2602 arrangement suitable for use in the various embodiments inwhich fuel cell generators 501 and IT loads 503 are located on the samefloors 502, 504, 506, and/or 508 of the data center 500. For ease ofdescription, only one floor 502 of the data center is illustrated inFIG. 26. A cooling device 2602 may be any type cooling device, such asthe cooling devices 1402, 1502, 1602, 2002, 2102, 2202 described aboveand/or other air conditioners, chillers, fans, etc. In an embodiment,the cooling device 2602 may direct cooling air to IT loads 503. The fuelcell modules 2304 may be arranged in a first column and the IT loads 503and cooling devices 2602 may be arranged in a second column in themiddle of the floor 502 to create two aisles 2603 and 2604. In anembodiment, the number of fuel cell modules 2304 may be equal to thetotal number of IT loads 503 and cooling devices 2602.

In an embodiment, one fuel cell module 2304 may be associated with eachIT load 502 or cooling device 2602 and may power its respective IT load503 or cooling device 2602, as shown by the connection lines. In thismanner, some fuel cell modules 2304 may power IT loads 502 while otherfuel cell modules 2304 may power cooling devices. In this configuration,each cooling device 2602 is used located between two IT loads 503 and isused to cool these adjacent IT loads 503 as shown by the arrows in FIG.26.

Alternatively, the number of fuel cell modules 2304 may not equal to(e.g., may be smaller or larger than) the total number of IT loads 503and cooling devices 2602. Thus, each fuel cell module 2304 may powermore than one IT load 503, or more than one cooling device 2602, or atleast one IT load 503 and at least one cooling device 2602.Alternatively, each IT load 503 and/or each cooling device 2602 may bepowered by more than one fuel cell module 2304.

FIG. 27 illustrates a modular fuel cell system enclosure (i.e., fuelcell generator) according to an exemplary embodiment. In the modularfuel cell system enclosure, the IT load 102 may be in a separate module2702 (i.e., cabinet) of the same enclosure as the power modules 12 ofthe modular fuel cell system enclosure. Thus, the IT load 102 and fuelcell hot boxes 13 are located in adjacent cabinets respective 2702, 12of an enclosure 10 of a modular fuel cell system.

Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 29, a cooling device 2704, such asa chiller, may be located in the same cabinet 2702 as the IT load. Thecooling device 2704 may provide cooling air to the IT load 102. Forexample, FIG. 29 shows a schematic of a cabinet 2702 with the door 30open (located above the cabinet). A chiller 2704 is located on the sideof the IT load 102 in the same cabinet 2704. The power modules 12 mayprovide power to the IT load 102 and/or cooling device 2704, but the ITload 102 and hot boxes 13 may be in different cabinets 12 and 2702,respectively.

FIG. 28 illustrates a modular fuel cell system enclosure (i.e., fuelcell generator) according to another exemplary embodiment. The modularfuel cell system enclosure illustrated in FIG. 28 may be similar to themodular fuel cell system described in U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/501,599, filed Jun. 27, 2011, entitled“Convergent Energized IT Apparatus for Commercial Use”, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, later filed as U.S.Patent Application Publication US 2012/0327592 claiming priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/501,599. In the modular fuelcell system enclosure illustrated in FIG. 28, the IT load 102, coolingdevice 2704, and fuel cell hot box 2704 may be in the same cabinet(i.e., power module 12). In an embodiment, access doors 30 on each sideof the cabinet may enable the IT load 102 and cooling device 2704 to beaccessed independently of the fuel cell hot box 13 through doors onopposite (e.g., front and back) sides of the cabinet.

FIG. 30 illustrates an embodiment data center 3000. In data center 3000the building structure 3001 may include walls 3003 configured such thatcooling air flow may not be allowed to bypass the IT loads 503 and flowback from an exhaust side of the IT loads 503 to an inlet side of the ITloads 503. The optional walls 3003 may be any type walls, such as arigid barriers, flexible blockages, etc. While walls 3003 areillustrated as single walls, walls 3003 may be comprised of multiplewalls. In an embodiment, the walls may run floor to ceiling and side toside creating a complete barrier separating the inlets of each of the ITloads 503 from the ventilation discharge side of the IT loads 503. Byproviding the walls 3003, a cold aisle 3002 at the inlet of each of theIT loads 503 may be created and a hot aisle 3004 at the ventilationdischarge side of the IT loads 503 may be created. In an embodiment, thefuel cell generators 501 and ventilation blowers 3006 may be provided inthe hot aisle 3004. In an embodiment, the cold aisle 3002 may bemaintained at a temperature suitable for personnel to access the ITloads 503 while fuel cell generators 501 are in operation and thetemperature of the hot aisle 3004 may be too high for personnel to enterthe hot aisles 3004. In an embodiment in which cooling air passes fromIT loads 503 then to fuel cell generators 501, the walls 3003 mayseparate a row of the IT loads 503 from a row of the fuel cellgenerators 501 such that the walls 3003 may allow the cooling air topass from the air inlets 3008, through the row of IT loads 503 to therow of the fuel cell generators 501, but substantially prevent the airfrom passing back from the row of fuel cell generators 501 back to therow of IT loads 503. While all the air from the IT loads 503, may notpass to the fuel cell generators 501, the walls 3003 may direct the airto the exhaust conduit 3012, rather than back to the inlet side of theIT loads 503.

In an embodiment, air may be drawn into data center 3000 on one or moresides of the building structure 3001 through air inlet conduits 3008. Inoperation, ventilation blowers 3006 may blow air from the hot aisles3004 out of the exhaust conduit 3012 and out of the building structure3001. Heated air provided by the IT loads 503 into the fuel cellgenerators 501 may be used as the air inlet stream for the fuel cell hotbox in the fuel cell generator 501. The positive pressure generated bythe movement of air out of the hot aisles 3004 may draw air through thefuel cell generators 501, through the IT loads 503, and into thebuilding structure 3001 through the air inlet conduits 3008.Additionally, a bypass air inlet 3010 may be provided in the buildingstructure 3001 to provide cool air to the electronics of the fuel cellgenerators 501 without first passing the air through the IT loads 503.In this manner, if the fuel cell generator 501 electronics require airwith a lower temperature than the process exhaust of the IT loads 503,the trimming bypass air may be provided by the bypass air inlet 3010directly to the fuel cell generators 501. In an embodiment, the positivepressure created by ventilation blowers 3006 may draw the trimmingbypass air in through the bypass air inlet 3010.

FIG. 31 illustrates examplary internal connections between fuel cellgenerators 501 and IT loads 501 in a data center 3100 according to anembodiment. The building structure and other features of the data center3100 are removed for clarity. While illustrated as a single floor datacenter 3100, the connections described apply equally to multiple floordata centers with IT loads 503 and fuel cell generators 501 located onthe same and/or different floors. Additionally, while three IT loads 503and three fuel cell generators 501 are illustrated, the connectionsdescribed apply equally to any number of IT loads 503 and fuel cellgenerators 501 connected together.

In data center 3100, rows of fuel cell generators 501 may receive fuelfrom a fuel supply conduit 3104. Each fuel cell generator 501 may beelectrically connected with its own power electronics device 3108. In anembodiment, power electronics device 3108 may include a DC/DC converter3110 (e.g., a boost/buck converter) and an AC/DC converter 3112. Thepower electronics device 3108 may also be electrically connected to anAC network 3102 (e.g., an AC grid connected bus) and a DC bus 3107electrically connecting the IT loads 503 and the various powerelectronics devices 3108. The IT loads 503 may each be connected to adata bus 3106. In an embodiment, the fuel supply conduit 3104 and/or thedata bus 3106 may be located inside the floor on which the IT loads 503and/or the fuel cell generators 501 are located. In an embodiment, theAC network 3102 and/or the DC bus 3107 may be located over the fuel cellgenerators 501 and/or in the ceiling. Auxiliary devices, such as blowers3116 may circulate fuel and/or air throughout the data center 3100. Inoperation, the fuel cell generators 501 may be operated to convert fuelprovided from the fuel supply conduit 3104 to DC and provide the DC tothe power electronics device 3108. The power electronics device 3108 maybe controlled, such as by a controller configured with logic, to provideDC to the DC bus 3107 and thereby, to the IT loads 503. In this manner,the fuel cell generator 501 may provide power to the IT loads 503.Additionally, the power electronics device 3108 may receive AC from theAC network 3102. The power electronics device 3108 may be controlled,such as by a controller configured with logic, to convert the AC to DCand provide the DC to the DC bus 3107 and thereby, to the IT loads 503and/or provide the DC to the fuel cell generator 501 (e.g., duringstart-up and/or to convert electricity to fuel in pump mode). Further,the power electronics device 3108 may be controlled, such as by acontroller configured with logic, to convert the DC received from thefuel cell generator 501 to AC and provide the AC to the AC network 3102(e.g., to provide/sell power to the grid). The IT loads 503 may use thepower received from the AC network 3102 and/or fuel cell generators 503via the power electronics devices 3108 to operate and may exchange datavia the data bus 3106.

The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams areprovided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to requireor imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed inthe order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the artthe order of steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in anyorder. Further, words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are notintended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used toguide the reader through the description of the methods.

One or more block/flow diagrams have been used to describe exemplaryembodiments. The use of block/flow diagrams is not meant to be limitingwith respect to the order of operations performed. The foregoingdescription of exemplary embodiments has been presented for purposes ofillustration and of description. It is not intended to be exhaustive orlimiting with respect to the precise form disclosed, and modificationsand variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may beacquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended thatthe scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto andtheir equivalents.

Control elements may be implemented using computing devices (such ascomputer) comprising processors, memory and other components that havebeen programmed with instructions to perform specific functions or maybe implemented in processors designed to perform the specifiedfunctions. A processor may be any programmable microprocessor,microcomputer or multiple processor chip or chips that can be configuredby software instructions (applications) to perform a variety offunctions, including the functions of the various embodiments describedherein. In some computing devices, multiple processors may be provided.Typically, software applications may be stored in the internal memorybefore they are accessed and loaded into the processor. In somecomputing devices, the processor may include internal memory sufficientto store the application software instructions.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosedherein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentinvention.

The hardware used to implement the various illustrative logics, logicalblocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspectsdisclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purposeprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) orother programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic,discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed toperform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor maybe a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be anyconventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. Aprocessor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices,e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality ofmicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSPcore, or any other such configuration. Alternatively, some blocks ormethods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a givenfunction.

The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the describedembodiment. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thescope of the disclosure. Thus, the present invention is not intended tobe limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles andnovel features disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a data center, comprisinga plurality of information technology (IT) loads, a plurality of fuelcell generators electrically coupled to the plurality of IT loads, abuilding structure housing the plurality of fuel cell generators and theplurality of IT loads, wherein at least one of: the plurality of fuelcell generators and the plurality of IT loads are laterally separatedand are located on a same floor of the building structure, or theplurality of fuel cell generators are located on a first floor of thebuilding structure and none of the plurality of fuel cell generators arelocated on a second floor of the building structure, and the pluralityof IT loads are located on the second floor and none of the plurality offuel cell generators are located on the first floor, and a coolingdevice, the method comprising: operating the plurality of fuel cellgenerators to provide power to the plurality of IT loads; providing aprocess exhaust stream from at least one of the plurality of fuel cellgenerators or the plurality of IT loads; and using the process exhauststream to cool at least one of the plurality of fuel cell generators orthe plurality of IT loads.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: providingthe process exhaust stream comprises providing the process exhauststream from the plurality of fuel cell generators; and using the processexhaust stream comprises using the process exhaust stream to cool theplurality of IT loads.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein: providing theprocess exhaust stream comprises providing the process exhaust streamfrom the plurality of IT loads; and using the process exhaust streamcomprises using the process exhaust stream to cool the plurality of fuelcell generators.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:monitoring the plurality of IT loads; controlling an operation of theplurality of fuel cell generators to provide power to an energy storagedevice coupled to the plurality of IT loads; and controlling anoperation of the energy storage device to power to the plurality of ITloads.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the building structure includesan air inlet conduit, an air filter coupled to the air inlet conduit, afan, and an air exhaust conduit, the method further comprising:operating the fan to draw air into the building structure via the airinlet conduit and circulate the air within the building structure;filtering the air from the air inlet conduit to create filtered air;providing the filtered air to the plurality of fuel cell generators orthe plurality of IT loads; and exhausting the air from the buildingstructure via the air exhaust conduit.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: exhausting a fuel exhaust stream from the plurality of fuelcell generators out a first side of the building structure differentfrom a second side of the building structure from which the air inletconduit draws the air; and exhausting the process exhaust stream fromthe plurality of IT loads and the plurality of fuel cell generators outa third side of the building structure different from the second side ofthe building structure from which the air inlet conduit draws the airand the first side of the building structure from which the fuel exhauststream from the plurality of fuel cell generators is exhausted.
 7. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the at least one of: the plurality of fuelcell generators and the plurality of IT loads are laterally separatedand are located on a same floor of the building structure, or theplurality of fuel cell generators are located on a first floor of thebuilding structure and none of the plurality of fuel cell generators arelocated on a second floor of the building structure, and the pluralityof IT loads are located on the second floor and none of the plurality ofIT loads are located on the first floor is the plurality of fuel cellgenerators and the plurality of IT loads are laterally separated and arelocated on a same floor of the building structure, and wherein thebuilding structure comprises a first building portion housing theplurality of IT loads and a second building portion housing theplurality of fuel cell generators, the first building portion and asecond building portion are two separate building portions connectedtogether by a connection structure, the method further comprising:passing the air from the first building portion to the second buildingportion via the connection structure.
 8. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising maintaining the air temperature in the connection structureat 50 to 70 degrees Celsius.
 9. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising: providing hot air exhausted from each of the plurality of ITloads to an air inlet of each of the plurality of fuel cell generators.10. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of IT loads areone or more of a server, a computer, a router, or an IT rack.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the plurality of IT loads is cooled byabsorptive cooling.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofIT loads is cooled by compression cooling.
 13. The method of claim 1,further comprising: removing water from the process exhaust stream ofthe plurality of fuel cell generators; and cooling the plurality of ITloads using the removed water by evaporative cooling.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the building structure further comprises a firstelectrically grounded metal skin and a second electrically groundedmetal skin which is separately ground from the first electricallygrounded metal skin and surrounds the first electrically grounded metalskin, wherein the ground of the second electrically grounded metal skinis isolated in a ground vault.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: drawing air into the building structure via an air inletconduit through at least a first metal mesh placed over an opening ofboth the first electrically grounded metal skin and the secondelectrically grounded metal skin and at least a second metal mesh placedbetween the first electrically grounded metal skin and the secondelectrically grounded metal skin.
 16. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining a minimum runtime for each of the plurality offuel cell generators; providing a fuel storage for each of the pluralityof fuel cell generators; storing an amount of fuel in each fuel storageselected to provide the minimum runtime for a respective one of theplurality of fuel cell generators; and cooling the plurality of IT loadsusing heat removal from the stored fuel.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the heat removal from the stored fuel occurs during conversionof the stored fuel from a liquid to a gas or during expansion of thestored fuel.
 18. A method for operating a data center, comprising aplurality of information technology (IT) loads, a plurality of fuel cellgenerators electrically coupled to the plurality of IT loads, a buildingstructure housing the plurality of fuel cell generators and theplurality of IT loads, wherein at least one of: the plurality of fuelcell generators and the plurality of IT loads are laterally separatedand are located on a same floor of the building structure, or theplurality of fuel cell generators are located on a first floor of thebuilding structure and none of the plurality of fuel cell generators arelocated on a second floor of the building structure, and the pluralityof IT loads are located on the second floor and none of the plurality ofIT loads are located on the first floor, and a cooling device, themethod comprising: operating the fuel cell generator to provide power tothe plurality of IT loads; operating the cooling device to cool at leastone of the plurality of fuel cell generators or the plurality of ITloads.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cooling device cools theplurality of fuel cell generators.
 20. The method of claim 18, whereinthe cooling device cools the plurality of IT loads.
 21. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the cooling device cools both the plurality of fuelcell generators and the plurality of IT loads.
 22. The method of claim21, wherein the at least one of: the plurality of fuel cell generatorsand the plurality of IT loads are laterally separated and are located ona same floor of the building structure, or the plurality of fuel cellgenerators are located on a first floor of the building structure andnone of the plurality of fuel cell generators are located on a secondfloor of the building structure, and the plurality of IT loads arelocated on the second floor and none of the plurality of IT loads arelocated on the first floor is the plurality of fuel cell generators andthe plurality of IT loads are laterally separated and are located on asame floor of the building structure, and wherein the plurality of fuelcell generators and the plurality of IT loads are located in a staggeredarrangement or in a back to back arrangement.
 23. The method of claim22, wherein the cooling device comprises at least one fan which draws incooling air from outside of the building structure, and the step ofcooling both the plurality of IT loads and the plurality of fuel cellgenerators comprises passing the cooling air from the at least one fanthrough the plurality of IT loads and then past the plurality of fuelcell generators followed by exhausting the air through a roof of thebuilding structure.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising aseparating wall which separates a row of the plurality of IT loads froma row of the plurality of fuel cell generators such that the wall allowsthe cooling air to pass from the at least one fan through the row ofplurality of IT loads to the row of the plurality of fuel cellgenerators but substantially prevents the air from passing back from therow of plurality of fuel cell generators back to the row of plurality ofIT loads.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one of: theplurality of fuel cell generators and the plurality of IT loads arelaterally separated and are located on a same floor of the buildingstructure, or the plurality of fuel cell generators are located on afirst floor of the building structure and none of the plurality of fuelcell generators are located on a second floor of the building structure,and the plurality of IT loads are located on the second floor and noneof the plurality of IT loads are located on the first floor is theplurality of fuel cell generators are located on a first floor of thebuilding structure and none of the plurality of fuel cell generators arelocated on a second floor of the building structure, and the pluralityof IT loads are located on the second floor and none of the plurality ofIT loads are located on the first floor, and wherein the buildingstructure includes an air inlet conduit, an air filter coupled to theair inlet conduit, the cooling device comprising a fan, and an airexhaust conduit, the method further comprising: operating the fan todraw air into the building structure via the air inlet conduit andcirculate the air within the building structure; filtering the air fromthe air inlet conduit to create filtered air; providing the filtered airto the plurality of fuel cell generators or the plurality of IT loads;and exhausting the air from the building structure via the air exhaustconduit.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of fuel cellgenerators or the plurality of IT loads are arranged in rows to form aplurality of fuel cell generators aisles between the rows of theplurality of fuel cell generators or a plurality of IT load aislesbetween the rows of the plurality of IT loads, the method furthercomprising: providing the filtered air down the plurality of fuel cellgenerators aisles or the plurality of IT loads aisles; and exhaustingthe air out a roof or a side of the building different from the side ofthe building structure the air inlet conduit draws the air in from. 27.The method of claim 26, wherein: a first portion of the aisles betweenthe rows of the plurality of IT loads are intake aisles configured toreceive the air from the air inlet conduit, the intake aisles having nooutlet to the air exhaust conduit; a second portion of the aislesbetween the rows of the plurality of IT loads are outlet aislesconfigured to exhaust the air to the air exhaust conduit, the outletaisles having no inlets to the air inlet conduit; and consecutive aislesare alternatively intake aisles and outlet aisles, the method furthercomprising: providing the air entering the building structure passesfrom the air inlet conduit, down the intake aisles, across the pluralityof IT loads, down the outlet aisles, out the air exhaust conduit, andout of the building structure.
 28. The method of claim 18, wherein theat least one of: the plurality of fuel cell generators and the pluralityof IT loads are laterally separated and are located on a same floor ofthe building structure, or the plurality of fuel cell generators arelocated on a first floor of the building structure and none of theplurality of fuel cell generators are located on a second floor of thebuilding structure, and the plurality of IT loads are located on thesecond floor and none of the plurality of IT loads are located on thefirst floor is the plurality of fuel cell generators are located on afirst floor of the building structure and none of the plurality of fuelcell generators are located on a second floor of the building structure,and the plurality of IT loads are located on the second floor and noneof the plurality of IT loads are located on the first floor, the methodfurther comprising: controlling access to the first floor and the secondfloor by different security protocols; and paging a security team,wiping data, writing-out master boot sectors, triggering a localelectromagnetic pulse, shutting down a server, or shutting down power inresponse to a security violation on the first floor or the second floor.29. The method of claim 18, further comprising: converting enthalpy ofthe plurality of fuel cell generators process exhaust stream to workenergy; and converting the work energy to power for the plurality of ITloads.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the enthalpy of the processexhaust stream is converted to the work energy at least in part by aturbine coupled to a generator, a reciprocating heat engine, a Stirlingengine, thermoelectric devices, or pyroelectric devices.
 31. The methodof claim 18, wherein: the plurality of IT loads and the plurality offuel cell generators occupy more than 95% of a usable space in thebuilding structure.
 32. The method of claim 18, wherein the coolingdevice and a respective one of the plurality of IT loads are located ina same cabinet of a modular fuel cell system enclosure.